Kofi Annan Quotes

Trust between allies is as important as deterrence of foes.

The great and overriding role of all alliances must be that of reciprocal interest.

Of all the important relationships that Australia has with other countries, none has been more greatly transformed over the last 10 years than our relationship with China.

Clearly, the Chinese know that we want a good relationship with them.

If any agreement between two nations is to last, it must serve the best interests of both nations.

We should have a good working friendship with the United States.

If you throw obstacles at the relationship with Mexico, you would be shooting yourself in the foot.

Our alliances should be understood as a means to expand our influence, not as a constraint on our power. The expansion of democracy and freedom in the world should be a shared interest and value with all nations.

The transatlantic relationship is vital for both our countries: France will remain a reliable ally of the United States. Nevertheless, ally does not mean aligned.

From 8,000 miles away... I would not judge a fellow soldier from a friendly nation and how they are employing their resources.

Our policy is to deepen the relations with all the countries in the world - monarchies, kingdoms, large powers - we want to respect all differences and have our relationships based on mutual respect.

When our interests matched, the Americans have been good to us, and when the interests differed, they wanted us to mold ourselves to them, which we refused.

Pakistan's being an ally and helping the United States, we ought to show Pakistan that we are appreciative for the help that's been extended.

I am keen to maintain very good relations and develop the relationship with the United States.

We are going to have to discuss with and seek the opinions of other countries. We don't wish to offend anyone, least of all a country we hold in such deep regard as the United Kingdom.

China and the U.S. have a very symbiotic relationship which will not decline any time soon. There are more shared interests as compared to shared differences and for this reason relations will continue to be good.

And in this community, as in all others, the Golden Rule still applies - we must be act toward other nations as we would have them act towards America.

Turkey wants a policy of engagement exactly like President Obama's new approach. Policy of engagement, less confrontation, less tense attitude, especially in the region.

No other people, as a whole, is entirely our enemy. No people at all … is entirely our friend.

Cooperation requires a certain degree of trust between states. The threshold of trust required for cooperation depends on a set of variables including a state's relative power and costs of conflict…. conflict between trustworthy states is possible, when we see conflict it is a sign that one or both of the states are likely to be untrustworthy.

Never give less to your ally than your opponent is giving to that ally.

Much of the relationship between the peoples of two countries has nothing to do with treaties or pieces of paper exchanged by people like me.

There is one condition for us to have healthy relations with the United States. It's called respect.

Japan does not consider itself an ally or partner of the United States but rather a nation which for the time being is being forced by circumstances to cooperate with the United States ...

It seems to me to matter little whether you have an alliance which is committed to paper, or whether you have an understanding in the minds of the statesmen of the respective countries.